THE NEW YORKER d . " A cornstalk as a sceptre, an saYIng, s of today I'm giving up control of the entire world and all of its inhabitants." A half-dozen fireflies had gathered in the darkness around her green cave, and the tiny beams seemed to trace the convolutions of her thought. Life out- side the asylum was not necessarily more pleasant. It could be, but it didn't have to be. She tried to recall what her beloved Camus had said about "ter- rible freedom," that once you decided not to commit suicide, whether physi- cally or figuratively, you assumed the responsibility of freedom. The thought blurred with a firefly's movement past her nose. She curled up fetally, rejected the position, and stretched out strenu- ously on her back until there were bone crackles. When she had waked up a few days before this trip she had noted that her feet were getting old, and laughed. She met Dr. Roth downtown for lunch because it was his volunteer day. He looked grim in the foyer of the Caucus Club and she feared he had had a bad morning at the hospital, but it turned out that an auto dealer had called to tell him his wife was intent on buying the same car she had bought the day before. The restaurant seemed sudden- ly Inappropriate, so they walked down the street and bought two Coney Is- lands apiece. Clare admitted she had never eaten one in her life but found the frankfurters covered with onions, mustard, and chili quite delicious. "You just saved a hundred bucks," he had said, examining a splotch of mustard on his necktie. Clare had al- ways insisted on the check. "T 00 bad they don't sell these out our way." They had ducked into a bar, had a quick beer, and removed the mustard from his tie. When they left and began walking again they decided not to be wi tty. "What would you think if I left Donald?" "I'd think you were sane"-his re- ply was quick-"but that's as much as I'll say. When did this come up?" "About seven years ago. Why won't i'" you say any more. "Because I've seen dozens of di- vorces in my practice, and the act is so utterly intimate that outside advice only confuses the issue. Also, anything I'd say would be an abridgment of your freedom. " "I understand that. I've actually re- 51 t& f' 1f! " \ t SHA ED Y THE SEA THE SUN AND SALT AIR F NANTUCKET .... . <" " ....,.. ...., ....r ","'- x ist e accommodatioQs. P .vate b y ap.d oce rl, es..sa 1in Tennis. S e UJ. ne And the ." f:l ea. nd IS -c of abled island'. An or c H el of America 1M '- (. THE WAUWIN.E1 AN INN BY E SltA '"" ," Box 2580 antucket MA 02584 ... -8718 508-228-0145 }.ß " . DO YOU TEACH? IF SO, PLEASE READ ON &J The Ne". Yorker is delighted to offer an education program to teachers who want to share the magazine with their students For information and materials to help you use The New Yorker in your classroom, please call Elaine Berman at (212) 536 - 5415 or write to her at the address below: THE NEW YORKER EDUCATION PROGRAM 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 {. .c$ 1. QUintessential character and relentless craftsmanship befitting the once- in-a-lifetlme acquisition. Over eighty pieces, each handmade ofendeanng Ponderosa Pine. Our catalog, ten dollars to: 232 Gallsteo Street, Dept.AE, Santa Fe, New MexIco 87501. '*^ u " Ar# !>> .. t "1 , %<< ,<f $ \ 5<;.:<" . . ,/ . TIU TJ , \ I